Our Simple U-Shape Kitchen: Maximising Space Without a Service Yard
1152
- Minimalist
- HDB (Resale)
- ~1,200 sqft
- 3 br
- Couple Living
Welcome to the second post of our bright and airy living room series @ourcarousellhome—a 5-room resale HDB located in the central region. Today, we're shifting focus to our simple kitchen! Interestingly, our entire estate does not come with a service yard. While we love about 95% of the floor plan (more on that later), the small kitchen and absence of a service yard initially gave us pause on the house at the start. The resale HDB only came with an outdoor area for traditional bamboo pole laundry hanging, which wasn’t ideal for us. So, we decided to install a countertop by the windows and use a dryer instead. This allowed us to create a semi-U-shaped kitchen, making the most out of the compact layout. 
We chose quartz for our countertop, and while I initially intended to go with white, I'm glad my husband vetoed that choice in favour of this non-white option. After conducting a 'turmeric and sauce' test on various quartz and backsplash tile samples, we settled on this countertop. We love it because it looks clean and effectively hides dirt and water droplets. This is an area where we prep our meals or put our grocery bags when we return. #ProTip: Instead of a built-in dish rack, we opted for a portable one to save storage space in our tiny kitchen, especially since we have a dishwasher. This one from Modori is easily stored away when not in use. Despite the lack of a service yard, we’ve maximised every inch for storage and functionality. Beneath the countertop that we build houses what our parents fondly call the 'three monsters'—the dishwasher, washer, and dryer. Many have asked why we didn’t install an automated ceiling drying rack, but given the size of the kitchen, we didn’t want to deal with the hassle of rushing to remove clothes while cooking. After 1.5 years of living here, we’re happy to say we’ve never regretted choosing a dryer! Our hob and hood are from Mayer, and we kept it simple with a 2-burner hob for our small kitchen. Initially, we planned to go with an induction stove, but switched to gas while purchasing all our appliances at Audio House. The decision was mainly cost-driven, as we were already installing a gas water heater, and gas stoves are generally more affordable. Based on our research, induction stoves tend to consume more electricity due to their electromagnetic elements and are typically pricier. We also realised we’d need to ensure our existing pots were compatible with induction, and we didn’t want to replace them unnecessarily. #ProTip: To minimise grout lines for the kitchen backsplash, choose large tiles measuring 1200x600. We selected a KitKat tile design in this size, which allowed us to use just two tiles and have only one grout line. This way, we avoid the hassle of cleaning each individual 'KitKat' bar grout lines. One of our most expensive appliances is the water dispenser, but the decision came quickly. I grew up with one, and in our first home, we didn’t invest in one. Boiling water and waiting for it to cool was a hassle for me, as I avoid drinking straight from the tap, even though Singapore’s water is safe. So, getting a dispenser for this home was a no-brainer. We needed a compact option, and Wells’ The One fit perfectly. While it requires more space underneath for its tank, we prefer having it hidden away rather than having one with its tank that takes up counter space. Another storage maximisation tip, we designed a utensils drawer hidden inside the main storage drawer for plates and bowls. This is honestly our most frequently used drawer, as it allows us to access utensils and cutlery all at a glance with just one pull. Highly recommend it! #ProTip: We also had the switches 'hidden' to have a clean look when appliances are not in use, helping to keep the kitchen looking minimal and simple. And continuing our curved edge theme throughout the house, we had the edges of this cabinet curved as well to prevent any accidental bumps. In a way, it’s also a subtle form of kids-proofing for the future. We decided against having a built-in oven, as we rarely used it in our previous home and didn’t want to give up more cabinet space. Instead, we plan to buy a countertop oven that we can easily store and bring out when needed. Though our kitchen may be small, it’s highly efficient, and with large windows for ventilation, we’ve really enjoyed cooking here. Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll dive deeper into the details of our floor plan!
- 8 October
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